Concrete pump

ABSTRACT

The invention is an improvement in joints between conduits and/or fittings. The invention is exemplified particularly as embodied in a concrete pump. The concrete pump has a pair of cylinders that discharge into a manifold, the manifold having a flapper valve in it, and a single discharge conduit. The manifold is hinged to the concrete pump so that it can be swung and locked in a position wherein its passageways are joined to the cylinders and the joint can be opened by swinging it about its hinge. Similarly, the discharge conduit is provided with a hinge hinging it to the manifold so that it can be swung into a position forming a joint with the manifold and a continuous passageway formed from the manifold through the discharge conduit and this joint may be opened by swinging the discharge conduit away from he manifold.

United States Patent Robbins 1 1 Feb. 1, 1972 Tubular StructuresCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr.3,l1968 [2|] Appl.No.: 727,119

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Smith ..103/l53 X Schumann ..l03/49 Primary Examiner-William L. FreehAttorney-Herzig & Walsh [57] ABSTRACT The invention is an improvement injoints between conduits and/or fittings. The invention is exemplifiedparticularly as embodied in a concrete pump. The concrete pump has apair of cylinders that discharge into a manifold, the manifold having aflapper valve in it, and a single discharge conduit. The manifold ishinged to the concrete pump so that it can be swung and locked in aposition wherein its passageways are joined to the cylinders and thejoint can be opened by swinging it about its hinge. Similarly, thedischarge conduit is provided with a hinge hinging it to the manifold sothat it can be swung into a position forming a joint with the manifoldand a continuous passageway formed from the manifold through thedischarge conduit and this joint may be opened by swinging the dischargeconduit away from he manifold.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mamas PATENTED FEB 1 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2INVENTOR W4 V/\/& 0. [655MB ATTOK/VH CONCRETE PUMP BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to improvements in joints betweenconduits or between conduits and fittings of various types. There aremany applications and environments where it'is necessary to provide forsealed joints between conduits or conduit sections and various types offittings. This invention provides an improvement whereby a conduit and afitting or two conduit sections are hinged together so that the jointcan be closed merely by swinging one part about the hinge relative tothe other and the joint may similarly be opened merely by swinging apart about a hinge.

In a preferred form of the invention, it is adapted and embodied in aconcrete pump, the concrete pump being of the type having a pair ofparallel, alternatively operating cylinders that discharge into amanifold. Concrete pumps ofthis general type are, of course, well knownin the art. Machines as presently known in the art are subject tocertain deficiencies and drawbacks. Generally, the parallel cylindersdischarge into a manifold having a valve in it which directs the outputof first one cylinder and then the other into a discharge conduit.Necessarily, there are sealed joints provided between the concrete pumpitself, the manifold and the discharge conduit, the material beingpumped being semifluid. conventionally, the parts forming the joints arebolted together with sealing gaskets ordinarily provided. Equipment ofthis type is, of course, subject to becoming blocked or jammed up byreason of foreign objects or the like getting into the material or forother reasons. In such an event, it is of course necessary to unbolt theparts at the joint to effectuate the unjamming, and of course thisrepresents downtime during which expensive capital equipment is out ofuse and during which time highly paid personnel are not performingservices. This applies similarly with respect to cleanup of theequipment. The invention herein, as briefly referred to in theforegoing, greatly alleviates this situation by making it possible tovery quickly open and close the joints and to lock them in closedposition. In this manner, the deficiencies referred to above aresubstantially overcome and the realization of this end is a primaryobject ofthe invention.

A further object of the invention is to realize the purpose in a jointconstriction of the type described wherein substantiallystraight-throughtype passageways are realized, eliminating turns andconstrictions in the passageways. It may be necessary or desirable topump the concrete rather long distances and to relatively high levelssuch that rather large power requirements prevail. Thus, anyimprovements in design that eliminates or reduces constrictions or sharpturns or the like represents a direct economy in power requirements andan increase in capability with respect to the rate, distance and thelikeat, and to which, the concrete can be pumped.

In a preferred form of the invention, the manifold contains a valvewhich is of the flapper type which is actuatable by a hydraulic actuatorin synchronism with the movements of the pump cylinders. This actuatoris carried by the manifold itself having a flexible connection to it, sothat when the manifold which is hinged to the concrete pump is swungabout its hinge the actuator moves with it.

The parts that are hinged together can be locked in closed position by awedge lock providing for a quick securement and release. Thus, theopening and closing of the joints is effected merely by actuation of thewedge lock and relative movement ofa part about a hinge.

Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawingswherein:

FIG. I is a relatively schematic view ofa preferred form of theinvention showing a discharge conduit hinged to a manifold and in openposition;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the construction of FIG. 1showing a manifold hinged to a concrete pump and in open position;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 showinga hopper over the manifold and with the discharge conduit in closedposition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings; it will be understood that theconcrete pump itself is conventional and may be like many differenttypes of concrete pumps known in the art. The concrete pump may be ofthe type mounted on two wheels that is, as a two-wheel trailer having achassis as shown at 10. The concrete pump includes a hopper 12 mountedin a position over the manifold as will be described and supported fromthe chassis by braces such as shown at 14. The hopper 12 has a dischargechute 16 which discharges into the manifold designated generally at 20.The manifold is hinged to the chassis of the concrete pump and thedischarge conduit 22 is hinged to the manifold as will be described.

As pointed out, the concrete pump has a pair of parallel cylinders 24and.26 which operate alternately in a manner well known in the art. Themanifold 20 is in the form of housing which is trapezoidal as shown,having an inlet end plate 26 having end openings 28 and 30 similar insize and spacing to the end openings of the cylinders 24 and 26. Theends of the cylinders 24 and 26 are substantially flush with an endplate 32 of chassis 10 of the concrete pump. The end plate or baseplate46 of the manifold 20 has at its end a hinge pin or bar 36 which isjournaled in hinge lugs 38 and 40 secured to the end plate 32 of theconcrete pump so that the manifold as a whole can swing about the hingethus formed. The manifold can be swung about the hinge to bring theopenings 28 and 30 into re gistry with the ends of the cylinders 24 and26 and preferably sealing gaskets may be provided around the peripheriesof openings 28 and 30.

At the top of the manifold 20 are plates 42 and 44 suitably fastened tothe manifold leaving a trapezoidal opening 48 between them. At the lowerend of the chute 16 of the hopper there is a square conduit 50 having anend flange 52. When the manifold 20 is swung into position to providejoints between the cylinder and the interior of the manifold, cylindersflange 52 comes directly over the opening 48 and may be securelyattached or secured to the manifold by way of the angularly movable legs56 and 58. In operation, the concrete feeds by gravity from the hopper12 down thru the chute 16 into the interior of the manifold 20.

Within the manifold 20 there is a flapper valve having a flapper or vane64 which swings about a vertical pivot 65 in synchronism with operationof the pump cylinders so that the concrete is directed from either oneor the other of the openings 28 and 30 into the discharge conduit 32.The flapper 64 can be swung about its vertical axis by a hydrauliccylinder '67 contained in a housing 66 and to which hydraulic fluid maybe directed by flexible hose 69 and 70. Thus, when the manifold 20 isswung about its hinge, the valve actuator moves with it.

Numerals 70 and 72 designate wedge locks which secure and lock themanifold 20 in position when it is swung against the end plate 32. Thewedge locks 70 comprises a threaded stem 74 which threads into the plate32 having an eccentric cam 76 on it and being manually rotatable byhandle 78 adjacent to the head 80 of the threaded member. FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate the closed and locked or secured position of the manifoldrelative to the. concrete pump. The wedge locks are secured merely bymanually rotating them so that an edge of the eccentric cam engages overthe edge of the faceplate 26 of the manifold 20 and upon further turningthe threaded member tightly wedges and holds the manifold in lockedposition. Since the two wedge locks are alike, both need not bedescribed in detail.

In the form of the invention shown the discharge conduit 22 is taperedhaving a square end plate providing a square inlet opening 92. The endplate 90 has a pair of extending hinge lugs 94 and 96 journaled on hingepin 100. Between the lugs 94 and 96 is a hinge lug 102 on the manifold20 with the hinge pin 100 extending thru the lug whereby the dischargeconduit is swingable about the hinge formed to provide ajoint between itand the manifold and to provide a continuous passageway therethrough.The outlet or discharge opening 106 of the manifold 20 is similarlysquare and adapted to register with the inlet opening of the dischargeconduit 22 and appropriate sealing gasket means may be provided relativeto these openings. The end plate 90 of the discharge conduit 22 may belocked to the manifold 20 by way of a wedge lock 108 which is similar tothe wedge locks previously described.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand thenature of the invention and its operation. The concrete pump itself ofcourse operates in the conventional manner of such pumps, the cylindersoperating alternately to discharge concrete. In operation the jointsbetween the manifold, the concrete pump, and between the dischargeconduit and the manifold are closed and locked as shown in FIGS. 3 and4. in this position the manifold is located so as to receive theconcrete from the hopper 12 and to cause it to be delivered either onone side or the other of the flapper 64 in a position to be forced outof the discharge conduit 22 by operation ofthe pump cylinders.

In the event of jamup or blockage making it necessary to open thejoints, this is greatly facilitated by the construction as described.The lugs 56 and 58 are merely moved into position to release the flange52 on the chute 16. The wedge locks 70 and 72 are then opened simply bygiving them a partial angular turn. The manifold 20 is then swung outabout its hinge into a position as shown in FIG. 2. If desired, thejoint between the discharge conduit 22 and the manifold may be openedfirst by giving the wedge lock 108 a partial turn and then swinging itabout its hinge into a position as shown in FIG. 1 and thus it will beseen that opening of the joints can be effected almost instantly tofacilitate any unjamming, unblocking or other maintenance required.After the casualty has been corrected, the joints can be quickly andeffectively closed as described merely by swinging the parts aroundtheir hinges and resecuring the wedge locks.

From the foregoing those skilled in the art will readily observe andunderstand the manner in which the invention achieves and realizes allof the objects and advantages as set forth in the foregoing as well asthe many additional advantages that are apparent from the detaileddescription. The invention is a simple and practical one, but one whichmakes possible substantial benefits by way of reduction in downtime,facilitation and simplification of maintenance and repair as well asrealization of more effective delivery of the material with reducedpower requirements.

Although the invention has been described herein in an exemplary form asembodied in a concrete pump, needless to say the invention is adapted toutilization in connection with joints used in other applications andenvironments. The invention may be embodied in joints in connection withconduits and fittings, etc., in which many other materials are conveyed.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and has to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than alimiting sense, if the invention is to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

l claim:

1. Ajoint structure comprising in combination a fitting having apassageway therethrough having an end opening lying in a plane, means towhich the fitting is attachable to provide for communication of fluidmaterial from the said means to the said fitting without relativemovement therebetween, conduit means having a passageway therethroughhaving an end opening lying in a plane; means comprising a hinge hingingthe said fitting and conduit means whereby the said end openings may bebrought together to provide a continuous passageway for fluid into andthrough the fitting and conduit means and whereby the fitting andconduit means may be swung relatively about the hinge to open the jointbetween them, the said fitting comprising a housing containing a valvecontrolling the passageway through a fitting the said housing itselfbein swingable about said hinge means, and an actuator for sai valvemeans carried by said fitting and movable with it.

2. A concrete pump of the type having parallel alternately operatingcylinders, means comprising a manifold into which said cylindersdischarge, and means providing a hinge hinging the said manifold to theconcrete pump whereby the manifold may be swung into a positionproviding a joint between the pump cylinders and manifold passageway andthe said joint may be opened by swinging the manifold about its hinge,the manifold having a valve therein, and the valve actuator carried bythe manifold and swingable therewith.

3. A structure as in claim 2, wherein the manifold has a dischargeopening, conduit means, and means providing a hinge hinging the conduitmeans to the manifold whereby a joint may be formed between the conduitmeans and the manifold to provide a continuous passageway therethroughand said joint may be opened by swinging the conduit means about itshinge.

4. A concrete pump of the type having parallel alternately operatingcylinders, means comprising a manifold into which said cylindersdischarge, and means providing a hinge hinging the said manifold to theconcrete pump whereby the manifold may be swung into a positionproviding a joint between the pump cylinders and manifold passageway andthe said joint may be opened by swinging the manifold about its hinge,the manifold having a valve therein and means providing further fluidcommunication from a hopper to the manifold when the manifold is joinedto the pump.

5. A concrete pump as in claim 2, including a fixedly mounted hopperhaving a discharge opening, said manifold having a receiving openingadapted to receive concrete, and said manifold being positionable sothat concrete discharged through the said discharge opening passes intothe receiving opening in the manifold.

6. A concrete pump as in claim 5, including means providing holdingengagement between the hopper and the manifold.

1. A joint structure comprising in combination a fitting having apassageway therethrough having an end opening lying in a plane, means towhich the fitting is attachable to provide for communication of fluidmaterial from the said means to the said fitting without relativemovement therebetween, conduit means having a passageway therethroughhaving an end opening lying in a plane; means comprising a hinge hingingthe said fitting and conduit means whereby the said end openings may bebrought together to provide a continuous passageway for fluid into andthrough the fitting and conduit means and whereby the fitting andconduit means may be swung relatively about the hinge to open the jointbetween them, the said fitting comprising a housing containing a valvecontrolling the passageway through a fitting the said housing itselfbeing swingable about said hinge means, and an actuator for said valvemeans carried by said fitting and movable with it.
 2. A concrete pump ofthe type having parallel alternately operating cylinders, meanscomprising a manifold into which said cylinders discharge, and meansproviding a hinge hinging the said manifold to the concrete pump wherebythe manifold may be swung into a position providing a joint between thepump cylinders and manifold passageway and the said joint may be openedby swinging the manifold about its hinge, the manifold having a valvetherein, and the valve actuator carried by the manifold and swingabletherewith.
 3. A structure as in claim 2, wherein the manifold has adischarge opening, conduit means, and means providing a hinge hingingthe conduit means to the manifold whereby a joint may be formed betweenthe conduit means and the manifold to provide a continuous passagewaytherethrough and said joint may be opened by swinging the conduit meansabout its hinge.
 4. A concrete pump of the type having parallelalternately operating cylinders, means comprising a manifold into whichsaid cylinders discharge, and means providing a hinge hinging the saidmanifold to the concrete pump whereby the manifold may be swung into aposition providing a joint between the pump cylinders and manifoldpassageway and the said joint may be opened by swinging the manifoldabout its hinge, the manifold having a valve therein and means providingfurther fluid communication from a hopper to the manifold when themanifold is joined to the pump.
 5. A concrete pump as in claim 2,including a fixedly mounted hopper having a discharge opening, saidmanifold having a receiving opening adapted to receive concrete, andsaid manifold being positionable so that concrete discharged through thesaid discharge opening passes into the receiving opening in themanifold.
 6. A concrete pump as in claim 5, including means providingholding engagement between the hopper and the manifold.